Q: I just purchased a book “House of the Seven Gables” by Nathaniel Hawthorne, copyright 1892, by Henry Altemus. Bound in a decorative burgundy and green with red flowers, with gold highlights. I paid $20 at an estate sale. From what I can see on this web site, I overpaid. Any additional information would be appreciated.

A: Your book was published in 1897 and is part of the Library of Standard Authors.

It is a reprint and has nominal value.

An early previously unknown boxed set for this series is shown here. This 39 volume boxed set contains the paste-grain roan editions of these books. The box is 6″ x 4.5″ x 22″. This set is not noted in any Altemus catalogues or advertisements.

The book formats (2 and 4) were published between 1899 and 1902. I suspect just as with the later boxed set, there were no dust jackets on any of the boxed set books.

Note the label on the box indicates the publisher is Henry Altemus not Henry Altemus Company. The books are a mix between those with Henry Altemus on the title page and Henry Altemus Company on the title page.

Thus it appears that this set was published between 1899 and 1902.

For more information, see Shakespeare’s Plays.

Q: Can you tell me about this book? A Wonder Book

A: This book was published in 1897 as part of the Petit Trianon Series. It is a reprint which originally was sold within a labeled box.

All of the titles in this series are reprints.

During this year the left half of the cover had the dot pattern whereas the right half of the cover had one of many different decorative patterns.

As of this time I have seen 15 different patterns. Some examples are shown below.

Q: I have this copy of “The man without a country” by Hale. I was unable to find this date of publication and or cover design on your web-site.
I purchased this in the early 70’s and had forgotten about it!
Any information you give would be appreciated!

A: This book is #22 in the Classics Series and was published in 1907. It was originally published with a dust jacket. A representative jacket is shown below.

It is a reprint as are all of the title in this series.

Q: I was just wondering if you could tell me if the book was worth anything. Peter Rabbit. Found it recently and didn’t know what to do with it. Thank you.

A: The extremely popular Wee Books for Wee Folks Series of books were published from 1904 to the early 1930’s. There were three formats for the Peter Rabbit title. The first Altemus (and American edition) was published in 1904 as part of a two volume boxed set. The other book was The Foolish Fox.

Later in 1904 the second edition was published. This edition had two formats. A green cover was noted until about 1908 and then your book with the beige cover was published until 1917.

All of the Tale of Peter Rabbit Wee Books show the 1904 copyright date on the title page. this is regardless of the date the book was actually published.

Note the date at the base of the title page.

Value $10-20

Q: Would like to know it’s value. Song of Hiawatha

A: This book is part of the Vademecum Series. This long running publisher’s series consisted only of reprints. Each year or so the titles in the series were changed as was the cover format of the books.

Your book is from 1902. There were more than 40 different appliqué paintings that appeared on the cover that year.

Since it is a reprint and the title is not widely collected, your book only has nominal value.

Q: Hey I found this Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland book at my parents and was curious about the year, history and value of the book. Thanks!

A: This book is part of the Boys and Girls Classics Series.
These books were published between 1899-1906. There were two formats. The one you have and another that has gold gilt decorative patterns within some of the rectangles. See below:

Dating these books is quite easily done. By using the ads in the back of the book, the publication date can be narrowed down to within a year or two. There is a chart on the series’ webpage that outlines how to do this.

Q: Tom Brown’s School Days. Approx. 4.25 x 6.25 inches. No publishing date is noted. Do you know when it was published? The frontispiece shows a sketch of four boys, one is lying on his face. Thanks for any help.

A: This book was published in 1915 as part of the Vademecum Series.

During this year the books were sold within a labeled box. See below.

It is a reprint and only has nominal value.

Q: Hi I found a copy of this book while going through out books. It was printed in 1892 and is in fairly good condition for its age. I was wondering if you could give me a approximate value. I am local so if need be I could bring the book to you. Attached are some photos of the book. Thank you.

A: Your book was published in 1898 as part of the Beauxarts Series. All of the titles in this series are reprints.

In 1898 there were several cover variants. See below.

This title is not very collectible and the book is not in very good shape. It has little or no monetary value.

This little 6′ x 4.5″ 92 glossy page book had only one Altemus printing. There are a number of unattributed illustrations. Initially it was published as a stand-alone book but later it was included in the Jester life Series Listings. The cover was done by the Decorative Designers firm. Their characteristic logo is noted about the upper claw of the lobster on the front cover’s right side.

This volume is basically a parody of an upscale banquet and its attendees.

Samuel G. Blythe (1868-1947) a friend to numerous presidents, was a well known author, newspaperman and political writer. He was a Washington correspondent for the New York World in the early years of the twentieth century and wrote a weekly column for the Saturday Evening Post.

For more information, see We Have With Us To-night.